Could an Empty Fridge Be a Sign It’s Time for an Aging Parent to Consider Assisted Living?

Assisted Living Citronelle AL: Could an Empty Fridge Be a Sign It’s Time for an Aging Parent to Consider Assisted Living?

Life can become extremely hectic. It happens to most of us from time to time: we get home, feel hungry, and just want something to snack on or a quick meal and discover the refrigerator is completely empty. Frustrated, we march out to the store and spend far more than we should have (because most experts agree it’s not a good idea to shop while hungry). But what happens when you visit an aging parent, neighbor, or even a friend of advancing years and find their refrigerator (and maybe even their cupboards) bare, filled with outdated food, or stuffed with things other than food?

Maybe you assume the worst.

That can certainly happen and it’s naturally to think that. What you need to realize, though, is it could be due to a number of reasons. Maybe your aging mother simply forgot to go shopping and was planning to do so, but you popped in for an unannounced visit. Perhaps your father wasn’t feeling his best lately and wasn’t all that hungry.

Or perhaps it’s something more than that. Maybe it’s the first of many signs he or she is beginning to feel overwhelmed living alone, struggling to get around, and doesn’t feel comfortable behind the wheel or riding the bus any longer.

An empty fridge (or one filled with expired items) may be a sign of memory related issues, mental challenges, depression, anxiety, or a host of other problems developing. If any of these issues are at play, now might be the time to talk about assisted living.

How is assisted living going to make a difference as far as the fridge is concerned?

A quality assisted living facility should have an exceptional dining facility and other options. Some will provide residents an eat-in kitchenette, allowing them to make meals themselves when they want, or choose to head down to the restaurant/dining facility and congregate with other seniors.

Staff at a quality assisted living community will be focused on providing whatever basic assistance might be required of their residents, from reminders about meals and activities to simply checking in and making sure they’re okay.

An empty fridge isn’t necessarily a harbinger of bad news, but it’s not usually good news, either, especially when it’s at the home of an elderly person who has been living alone for a while. Sure, they’re fare is going to be less full, as it were, than for a family of 5, but still, if there are signs causing family concern, they need to address them as soon as possible.

Now might also be the best time to at least bring up the topic of assisted living, too.

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.Google Verified Author

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